Blog

There were many memorable moments on my road to becoming a doctor, but a few stand out.

1. Biking to the hospital in the snow, day after day after day (it was in Boston), during residency. Wet scrubs are no fun.

2. Talking to a teenage girl who was embarrassed about having to find a prom dress that would cover the large psoriasis plaques on her elbows

3. High-fiving and hugging a patient-turned-friend moments after finding out his leukemia was in remission!

4. Helping to give a baby its first breath…

5. Studying for the MCAT® exam (Medical College Admission Test)

Are you surprised that last one made the list? Don’t be. I studied for the MCAT for weeks and weeks, and walked out feeling drained. It was a grueling experience and I was a basket case, running around trying to balance my class-load with finding reliable study materials and knocking out practice questions on weekends. For three long months, I ate, slept, studied, and stressed (in that order). But I realize that the work I put into preparing helped get me ready for medical school.

This April, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is unveiling a new and improved MCAT exam. More than 80,000 individuals will take this new test on their road to medical school each year. And with the help of the AAMC and a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Khan Academy has built resources to help students prepare for the exam.

It’s amazing to think that within four years, students taking the new MCAT are going to be physicians in every single clinic, hospital, and operating theater across the United States and Canada. They’ll be caring for you or someone you love.

We know that aspiring medical students want to learn, and we want to be a small part of their journey. Good luck to everyone taking the new MCAT exam - we hope you find our new study tools helpful!